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Toronto FC takes Maryland’s Tsubasa Endoh in MLS Superdraft

University of Maryland attacking midfielder recently named the MVP of the 2016 adidas MLS Player Combine. Toronto native Richie Laryea was the only Canadian selected in the first two rounds of draft, picked seventh overall by Orlando City SC.

Tsubasa Endoh, who was named the 2016 MLS Player Combine MVP after for his performance with Team Ace last week, was selected seventh overall by Toronto FC in Thursday's league SuperDraft. (Andy Mead / MLS handout)

Toronto FC picked Tsubasa Endoh from the University of Maryland in the first round of the MLS Superdraft. (Anne-Marie Jackson / Toronto Star) | Order this photo

Tsubasa Endoh (left) is the newest Red, after Toronto FC selected the Japanese midfielder with the club's first pick in Thursday's MLS SuperDraft. (Maryland Athletics)

Newly minted Red Tsubasa Endoh was named most valuable player at the 2016 Major League Soccer combine, but never in the midfielder’s wildest dreams did he see himself being selected ninth overall in Thursday’s SuperDraft.

The 22-year-old product of the University of Maryland wasn’t expecting to hear his name called in the first round, maybe not even the second. In fact, he was “pretty worried” about not getting drafted at all.

“It’s just incredible, an incredible experience for me,” a near-breathless Endoh gushed over the phone from Baltimore minutes after MLS commissioner Don Garber announced Toronto FC would be Endoh’s new club. “I didn’t see that coming; I wasn’t ready at all.”

But Greg Vanney was; TFC’s head coach said the club rated Endoh highly even before watching him play at the combine.

“Quite simply, to me he was the best all-around soccer player in the draft,” he said.

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Wake Forest midfielder Jack Harrison went first overall on Thursday.

Harrison was initially chosen by Chicago, but the Fire immediately traded him to New York City FC in exchange for general allocation money and the No. 4 pick, with which the team selected defender Brandon Vincent from Stanford.

Toronto native Richie Laryea was the only Canadian selected in the first two rounds of draft, picked seventh overall by Orlando City SC. He will join former Sigma FC teammate Cyle Larin, who was drafted first overall to the expansion club last year.

Endoh appeared in 85 matches for Maryland, registering 12 goals and 16 assists. In college he earned the Big Ten’s most valuable offensive player honour and was named Big Ten conference player to watch.

But more than just Endoh’s on-field attributes were considered by Toronto.

The Tokyo native left his family at age 12 to join the Japanese Football Association Academy in Fukushima. He was 17 in 2011 when he survived the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the area, killing about 19,000 people.

Little more than a year later, Endoh moved to Maryland.

So when Vanney asked the midfielder one of his typical get-to-know-you questions — What is the hardest thing you’ve had to overcome as a young man? — Endoh’s answer was profound.

The team took his character in the face of tragedy into consideration.

“That’s always a good thing with players, when they have to come and try something new and adapt and learn. That’s what it’s all about when you get to a new team and a new level of play is how quickly you can make that adjustment,” Vanney said.

Ability-wise, the Reds coach believes Endoh, yet to officially sign a contract, will adapt quickly to the first team.

“You can tell that his level of thinking is that of the guys we have on our team, which is why I think our guys will enjoy playing with him,” said Vanney, who sees him as an option on the wings.

Endoh, who was joined at the draft by his mother Hiromi and some of his Maryland teammates, is intrigued by the team’s move toward possession style play and can’t wait to get started, linking up with the likes of Sebastian Giovinco, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley.

In the meantime, he’s reveling in Thursday’s unexpected triumph.

“I think I should be very proud of myself about it, because what I went through . . . in Japan, that was pretty tragic. I think all the experiences have helped me get to where I am right now.”

The third and fourth rounds of the draft will take place Jan. 19 by conference call.

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